Does my bum look 40 in this?

Showing posts with label blazer. Show all posts

The one thing you can't avoid this Spring...

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I'm not going to lie - I wasn't sure about these when I first realised that they were going to be everywhere this season.

And then I thought... what are you talking about? These are blazers. You LOVE a blazer.

And there is definitely one for everyone.

There are also so so many different ways to wear them. In fact, you can think of these as a normal blazer but with a bit more personality. Something to add a bit of a lift to your wardrobe.

If you're feeling brave and looking to embrace all things SS18 you can mix with prints. But perhaps you may prefer to ease yourself in gently with just a teen jeans and boots or loafers or trainers or whatever footwear takes your fancy.

You could always slip over a silk shirt, jeans and heels for an alternative night out look.

Which means a quick look at Pinterest for some inspo.

So for me, in an ideal world, it's going to be super simple - graphic tee, jeans, loafers and blazer.

THIS.

Is this Anine Bing? Whoever she is, she's GORGEOUS.

And another amazing pic to get inspo from...

So going in and starting with some more wearable grey ones.

Sacred Hawk Oversized Blazer was £65 now £19.50

Grey in the sale at Jigsaw.

Prince of Wales Check Blazer was £199 now £79

Grey neutrals now but with the addition of pale blue - would also look fabulous paired with lilac. Other whites. I'd even put some yellow in there too. And the ideal match for denim.

Check Structured Blazer from Mango £69.99

Black and white plaid blazer at & Other Stories £129

Navy tweed at Warehouse £65

Navy in the sale for a steal.

Monki Checked Oversized Blazer was £40 now £20

Fabulously subtle at & Other Stories £110

Neutral shades of tan at Warehouse £59

More neutral at Mango new in for £89.99

Yellow at & Other Stories £89

Check Blazer from Bershka £49.99

This one is multicoloured but - well, as random as it sounds, it's a neutral multicoloured. I think this would genuinely go with anything. Could this be the ideal bright but not bright jacket?

Multicoloured Blazer from Mango £89.99

Red at ASOS.

ASOS Design Check Double Breasted Blazer in red check £52

Brushed Cotton Blazer from Topshop £69

But my favourite is this one from ASOS Design in the sale was £48 now £24

And here I am I, not in a check blazer but a check coat - easing myself in gently...

In the Spring, I'll be wearing this with a tee, jeans and loafers.

Black Jumper - Jigsaw (5yrs old)
Jeans - MiH from Quattro Rish (aw18)
Coat - Preen by Thornton Bregazzi from Matches (sale aw18)
Boots - Jigsaw (GIFT - from paid partnership aw18)
Bag - YSL from Selfridges (current)

So on the topic of loafers, I have these coming up shortly. And I also have a boot confession to make. I have fallen in love with Dr Martens. I know - WHAT? I have never ever had a pair of these. I am 46yrs old. Is it really an appropriate time to buy a pair of these? The new ones I saw the other day are called Pascals and they are leather like butter. Blog coming on them soon.

But in the meantime - where are we all sitting on the check blazer topic? Are we going in, are we all for a plain blazer or are we a "get those hideous things away from me" sort of gal?

Back to basics

So one thing that I do bang on about every year and why change the habit of a lifetime - this year shall be no exception. Building blocks. The basics in your wardrobe around which you can make a plethora of outfits. And without a shadow of a doubt, some of my favourites over the years, have come from M&S. Yes I have worked in a paid partnership with them over the years and yes, this is my January paid blog post for them. But I don't need to carry on wearing the products. I could just do my pick of underwear and thermals and cashmere and not bother exploring anything else. But genuinely, their basics are amazing. And anything but *basic*.

You also do have to hunt for them. Which is why I guess these paid partnerships work. The website is huge, the photographs often don't do the product justice and the stores can be very difficult to navigate with limited in store selection.

BUT if you persist - or just take note of the edit I do every month, you can find some amazing staples around which you can work outfits. And these will last as well.

First up, the perfect blazer. Available in black and navy (outfit pics at the bottom).

Ponte Blazer from M&S £59 Now it says this is Ponte. To my mind, that's a thick stretchy jersey and this is definitely not that as far as I'm concerned. It's just a really good quality feeling blazer. I tried it in the 8 (they didn't have a 10 or a 12) and so have ordered the 10 to pick up tomorrow.

Now that one does have metal buttons - which I personally love as I think it makes it less *suity* but I do have lots of blazers with plain buttons too. This is a great fitting jacket too. Nipped in at the waist giving a lovely silhouette with the structured shoulders. M&S blazers are always cut generously for those with busts - not so great for me but I do live with it - ideal if you're more well endowed.

Tailored Stitch Detail Blazer in black and navy £45

The trousers. Yes, these are THE trousers. The quality of them is as good as Joseph. They come up big and they come up long. And they're also in incredibly limited stock... you have more chance of navy than black. They also look absolutely terrible in this picture and look nothing like this in real life.

Turn up wide leg trousers in navy, black and also pink £35

Right - so as the stock levels of these are so sketchy, I've ordered these below to try - they'll be here tomorrow (don't have them instore) so I will report back They look exactly the same - the fabric content is the same but I am assuming they're a slightly thinner fabric. They do have a much better stock selection though...

Wide leg ankle grazer trousers £25

Another ideal neutral for your wardrobe - the leopard print knit. This will be so much useful than you ever thought. Leopard IS a neutral... and as such works with prints but I appreciate that might be a bit of a fashion mouthful, so use it to inject immediate new season loveliness, alongside your favourite neutrals from years gone by.

This first one is 100% acrylic as you would expect for the price. BUT it's not a squeaky nasty fabric, it's soft with a cotton feel to it. Size wise, I would say it's true to size - perhaps ever so slightly on the generous side.

Animal Print Crew Neck Jumper £17.50

And then a cardigan version which works so well when worn as a v neck jumper if you size up. Alternatively wear as a cardigan!

Animal Print Cardigan £25

But then upping the ante and as fabulous as the ones above are, if you're thinking of wearing this a lot and love leopard, this is worth the investment. 'Tis beautiful. It's a smaller print than the ones above - which randomly I think makes it more subtle. The tones of the two are very similar, as is the shape. Size wise, again I would say this is true to size - although the arms are definitely longer than the £17.50 version.

Pure cashmere round neck leopard print jumper from Autograph £99

And then a little extra. A coat. A warm coat. A pink coat OF DREAMS. Is this coat as good a quality as some that cost double and triple the amount? Yes. Do I need another coat? No. Do I have a pink coat? No. Do the fashion maths.

Textured Single Breasted Coat from Autograph £149

And here I am in the coat...

But more importantly in what I would say are the essential black jacket, trousers and perfect leopard print knit (this is the cashmere one).

This is the 8 so yes, it does look ever so slightly like I have been vacuum packed into it but the 10 is winging it's way to my nearest M&S for me to click and collect tomorrow.

There are moving pictures over on Insta stories (saved to Highlights if they've disappeared from the actual stories). Any questions just ask, but I will be back with pictures of the new trousers, the jacket in the right size and the PINK COAT!

This blog post has been written as part of my monthly paid partnership with M&S. All thoughts are my own, unedited.

The links in this blog post are affiliate links.

Being Surgical

This is something that the husband says to me when we're shopping. Be surgical. No fannying around, no dilly dallying or shilly shallying (he doesn't say those - they were very much straight out of my mother's mouth). He doesn't agree with browsing or having a mooch - hence, be surgical.

He is very much of the mind that you should know what you are looking for and just focus on that and when you find it buy it.

And - damn it - he's right. Ok so it does take all the joy out of shopping if you are a born meanderer (I fancy a t-shirt with that on - or born moocher. Either sum up my love for a peruse of the shops, more than adequately) BUT it does mean that you invariably end up with what you need.

Which makes for a much easier to wear wardrobe and clothes that ultimately really earn their keep.

Cost per wear. This is what I have banged on about incessantly for years and - apologies for being boring- I shall be waving it from placards again this year.

As there really is no need to reinvent the wheel. I started this blog almost eight years ago, with the sole intention of finding myself a wardrobe that, into my 40s, I could wear. Whilst using it as my personal cathartic diary of what being a woman into her 40s was like in this day and age. And hopefully beyond. As I truly believe that whilst life doesn't start at 40, there is no reason why you can't become a better version of yourself, the older you get.

And so - this year, as always, my main focus will be not on gathering a whole new wardrobe but bringing you suggestions of those gems you can add in, to bring new life to the wardrobe you already have.

It sometimes only takes one new addition to make those dresses, skirts and jeans that you have had for years, feel like entirely new outfits.

A good place to start is with a good clear out. So you can see the wood for the trees.

I did this the other day and it became abundantly clear that what I love to wear, and what I am excited to wear for next season (or the end of this season really) - are skirts and dresses. And good old jeans.

What goes with all of them? Oh hello BLAZERS! Yes, a blazer - once the uniform of the office worker has now become my daily crack when it comes to jackets.

I love how it works over a dress and chunky boots to give a different look. Fear not - there is still very much room in my life for a biker jacket and trainers but it's nice to ring the changes and get more wear out of the basics in your wardrobe with a twist on how you'd usually wear it.

Whilst we're extolling the virtues of the jacket, I should also say that they last the test of time. They are probably the main things in my wardrobe that have been there for years. They just don't seem to go out of fashion.

And it's a great idea to search the sales to find some if you're thinking they could work for you.

Ganni Ridgewood Cotton Blazer was £230 now £161

This however is the perfect jacket for into the new season. Perfect to wear now with jumpers, come the warmer weather and fling over a tee.

Oversized Double Breasted Blazer from M&S £79

Or this one in black which looks to be the identical shape to my tuxedo one from there last year. I shall be trying on next week...

Oversized Long Sleeve Blazer from M&S £79

A fitted navy classic at Jigsgaw - these ones are brilliant as they still have the smart fitted shape but the raw edge makes it that little bit more casual.

Raw Edge Ponte Jacket from Jigsaw was £140 now £84

Which they also have in black... also £84

Black with a small puffed sleeve looks amazing over a full skirt.

Annie Jacket in Black from Baukjen was £189 now £103

Yes it's weird buying cream now but this will come into its own in the Summer. And I would never spend a lot of money on a cream blazer.

Glossy Linen Blazer from Zara was £69.99 now £49.99

Oversized plaid in the sale at & Other Stories (I do love their blazers but this is the only one in the sale - the others are all too new! However I will cover them in New In as there are a couple of great ones).

Wool Blend Plaid Blazer from & Other Stories was £129 now £77

And then we come onto the less blazer but more - super useful jacket - that also holds a special place in my wardrobe.

I would normally give over a whole page to these (this definitely won't be the last this season, that's for sure) but these are just ones that I have come across in the sale. All things new season in the next couple of weeks.

I should also point out that I wouldn't be wearing this over a formal little black dress. This needs to be worn over a tee and slouchy jeans. Trainers for every day, ankle boots for a bit of edge or heels for out out in the evening. I would also throw over a floral maxi dress but that's very much my style - perhaps not for everyone. Definitely dress down this jacket though. Having said that, if you did want to wear it for a smarter occasion, I would team with wide leg black trousers and either silk tee or silk shirt.

Michael Michael Kors Studded Crepe Jacket was £335 now £168

Similar shape and idea although much cheaper at Mango.

Tassels Embellishment Jacket was £79.99 now £47.99

This would get my personal vote though.

Collarless Tweed Jacket from Karen Millen was £199 now £95

Or another style which I have personal experience of and can HIGHLY recommend.

IRO Shavani Jacket was £285 now £186

Some military action at Mango was £69.99 now £48.99

Or in the navy..again now £48.99 from Mango

And as it's not entirely blazer weather at the minute - here I am in a coat...

Jumper - hush (from paid partnership aw18)
Jeans - MiH from Quattro RIsh (aw18)
Trainers - Golden Goose from Far Fetch (sale aw17)
Coat - Topshop (aw18)
Scarf - Louis Vuitton (6yrs ago)
Bag - YSL from Selfridges (current)
Glasses - Alexis Amor (current)

Speaking of coats - I will be doing a round up of some great sales purchases. That we can actually get a lot of wear out of right now and for the foreseeable future, as it's FREEZING! Coming in the next day or two.

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